Saddle cincha billet holder



De@ @y E966 A. s-mmEmA SADDLE GINCH BILLET HOLDER Filed March 17, 1965 INVENTORQ In United States PatentQF 3,289,389 SADDLE CIN CHA BILLET HOLDER Arsenio Herrera, 635 Pennsylvania St., Denver, Colo. Filed Mar. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 440,472 4 Claims. (Cl. 54-23) This invention relates to saddles for `horses and the like, .and more particularly to a means for facilitating the securement of `the saddle billet to the saddle cincha.

Since time immemorial it has been customary to positio-n upon the back of the larger members of the equine family, including but not limited tothe mule, the donkey, the burro, the jackass, Ithe horse, and the hinny, a `saddle for humans to ride upon or a pack saddle on which to carry cargo.

A saddle yor pack saddle is conventionally secured on the animal by a strap which is of sufficient length to surround `the animals girth. Such saddles customarily have a metallic ring on each side thereof to provide a convenient means for lthe :attachment of a saddle billet. The strap which surrounds the animals girth customarily comprises a leather saddle billet which is a strip of leather usually between one and three feet in length and which has one end permanently secured to the metallic ring provide-d on each side of the saddle. The saddle billet has on the free end thereof a series of longitudinally spaced apart holes in `much the same manner as does a mans belt. A saddle cincha is conventionally used to span the distance between the free ends of the saddle billets, and comprises a series of substantially parallel cords on each end of which is secured a buckle much like a mans belt buckle. It has been fou-nd that when the saddle billet is buckled to the saddle cincha the free end of the billet hangs substantially vertically and is abraded by and becornes entangled in brush passing alon-g the horses side.

It is accordingly an object of the instant invention to provide a means for conveniently `securing the free end of the saddle billet.

It is another object yof the instant invention to provide a means secured to the saddle cincha which may be used to restrain the movement lof the free end of the saddle billet.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a means for facilitating the securement of the saddle billet to 4the saddle cincha.

It is a more specific object of the instant invention to provide a transverse strap on a saddle cincha for the convenient insertion of a saddle billet.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a means of `the type described which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in use, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, utilize, and maintain.

Still `other object-s reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, features of construction, and characteristics of use, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of the 'instant invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a view `showing a fwestern type saddle equipped with a saddle cincha having thereon a billet holder in accordance with the principles of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view showing the connection of a saddle billet and a saddle cincha, the saddle cincha being equipped with a billet holder in accordance with the principles of the instant invention, a saddle billet being show-n in dotted lines for clarity of illustrations;

3,289,389 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 ICC FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 3--3 FIGURE 2 and viewing in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the saddle cincha taken :along line 4--4 of FIGURE 3 and viewing in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 5 is a view of a billet holder made in ac cordance with the instant invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters represent like elements throughout the several views thereof, and more particularly `to FIGURE 1, there is indicated generally at 10 a saddle which maybe of any desired type, but which is shown as a western type saddle, having a saddle horn 11, stirrrups 13, and the conventional seat 15. A saddle billet shown generally at 12 is `secured by any conventional means, such as by sewing, riveting, or the use of leather thongs, to a metallic holder 17 permanently secured on each side of saddle 10.

Saddle -billet 12 comprises a leather strap 15 normally between 12 and 36 inches in length having a. free end 16 provided with a pair of substantially parallel side edges 18 and a longitudinal axis shown generally `at 22. A series of spa-ced apart apertures 24 lie along longitudinal axis 22 and provide a means for the reception of a belt tongue as hereinafter described.

Saddle cincha 14 comprises a series of substantially parallel strands 26 which are usually made of hemp or the like and which usually number between 13 and 27, although this number may be varied at will. Positioned at each end of saddle cincha 14 is a metallic belt buckle indicated generally at 27 comprising a metallic belt rin-g 28 which may be of any desired cross sectional configuration, but which is usually of circular cross section. Each strand 26 of cincha 14 yis secured about one portion of belt ring 28 by a loop 30 and any convenient weavers knot shown generally at 32. Belt ring 28 is conventionally provided with a transverse cylindrical rod 34 secured thereon perpendicular yto the axis of strands 26. Loosely journaled about transverse cylindrical rod 34, as by an eye 36, is a belt tongue 35 which is oriented -in the direction of the axes of parallel strands. 26'; A free end 38 of buckle tongue 34 is conventi nally. curved about the periphery of circular cross sec Y ng 28 and extends past the edge thereof for receivi hwfillet. 12 in much the same manner as a mans belt buc le receives the free end of the belt.

In preparing to saddle a horse or the like, one end of the saddle cincha 14 is buckled to one billet provided on saddle 10. The saddle is then placed on the back of the animal midway between it-s front and rear legs, the free end of the saddle cincha is then grasped :and buckled to the saddle billet on the near side of the horse. By tightening the saddle billet 12 in buckle 27, the. saddle may be firmly secured to the back of the animal.

Shown generally at 40 is a billet holder made in accordance with the principles of the instant invention :and which comprises a substantially horizontal top 42 which is shown equipped with a longitudinal `strengthening rib 44, but which is not absolutely necessary to the operation of the instant device. Top 42 may be `of any desired configuration but is preferably rectangular `and being about -two inches in length and about Vs inch in width. Downwardly secured to top 42 on each endl thereof is a retainer means `shown generally at 46 which comprises a vertical arm 48 and a U-shaped strand receiver 50 having one leg secured to arm 48 and having a free leg 52. Reta-iner 46 preferably extends about 7/16 inch below top 42 and is about inch wide. U-shaped retainer 50 is about 5716 inch from side yto side as shown in FIGURE 4 and is about 1A inch from top to bottom.

Billet holder 40 is fastened to saddle cincha 14 about ten inches from the nearest portion of buckle 27 by placing `selected strands 26a in U-shaped rece-iver 50 and bending free leg 52 about selected strand 26a as by pliers or the like as shown in FIGURE 2.

Selected strand 26a is chosen by determining the central strand 26b of saddle cincha 14 and counting outwardly i-n both transverse directions four strands, with the fourth strand 26a being placed in U-shaped receiver 50. When saddle billet 12 is secured in buckle 27 the free end 16 of billet 12 is slipped underneath the top 42 of billet holder 40 in much the same manner as the end of a mans belt i-s placed under an adjacent belt loop. Thus billet holder 40 provides a convenient means for restraining the movement of free end 16 of saddle billet 12.

Since U-shaped receiver 50 of billet holder 40 must be malleable to the extent that it can bend around selected strands 26a of saddle cincha 14, the bil-let holder 40 is conveniently made of a nickel plated brass material, although it may be made of any convenient metal such as brass, aluminum, cast iron or the like. One advantage of using brass, aluminum, or a nickel plated brass materlal is that billet holder `4l) will not rust or corrode, thus preserving the appearance of saddle cincha 14. Buckle 27 on each end of saddle cincha 14 may be made of any convenient material but is usually made of a chrome plated alloy for the sake of appearance.

From the foregoing it may be seen that there is herein provided a billet holder which is a means for restraining movement of the free end of an associated saddle billet, which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many modifications may be made within this inventive concept, as by securing several adjacent strands to the billet holder, and as many modications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in :a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In combination, a saddle having a saddle billet secured on each side thereof, said billet having a free end with a series of longitudinally spaced apart apertures therein, a saddle cincha having a buckle at each end thereof, at least one buckle being secured to said billet, said saddle cincha comprising a plurality of substantially parallel strands, and a billet holder includin-g a substantially at horizontal top extending transverse-ly across said saddle cincha and U-shaped retainer means at each end of said top receiving selected strands for securing said billet holder on said saddle cincha for restraining the movement of said free end of said billet secured in said buckle.

2. The combina-tion of claim 1 wherein said billet holder is made of a malleable non-corrosive metal.

3. In combination =a saddle cincha comprising a plurality of substantially parallel strands having a buckle secured at each end of said strands, and a billet holder secured to selected strands, Isaid billet holder comprising a substantially at horizontal top, a U-shaped retainer means having a free leg secured to each end of said top, said selected strands placed in said U-shaped retainer means with said free leg rbent around said selected strands.

4. A billet holder comprising a substantially hat horizontal rectangular top having a length and a width, a retainer means secured to the ends of a length of said top, said retainer means comprising a depending substantially vert-ical arm, on the end of whi-ch is secured a-n outwardly extending U-shaped deformable receiver.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 202,683 4/1878 Watters 24-182 290,289 12/1883 Traphagan 24-182 292,844 2/ 1884 Northcutt 24-182 299,995 6/ 1884 McGuire 54-23 320,118 6/1885 Eckles 54-45 663,445 12/1900 Kootz 54-23 745,440 12/ 1903 Horning 54-23 1,503,715 8/1924 Schnitger 54-23 2,022,837 12/ 1935 Worcester 54-44 2,230,070 1/ 1941 Wilhel 54-23 SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Examiner. 

4. A BILLET HOLDER COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT HORIZONTAL RECTANGULAR TOP HAVING A LENGTH AND A WIDTH, A RETAINER MEANS SECURED TO THE ENDS OF A LENGTH OF SAID TOP, SAID RETAINER MEANS COMPRISING A DEPENDING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL ARM, ON THE END OF WHICH IS SECURED ON OUTWARDLY EXTENDING U-SHAPED DEFORMABLE RECEIVER. 